The results of the 83 World Cup changed the approach of sports lovers in India, suddenly cricket became the most liked sport in the country. The winners of 83 received a grand welcome from the countrymen and were treated as heroes, they encouraged the youth of India to join sports and gained respect. Now, India is waiting to host the mega event and repeat its triumph. Finally, after four years, the fourth event was to be played in India. After the first three successful events hosted by England, the Cricket World Cup now changed its venue to the Sub-continent. 

In continuation to our series ‘A Countdown to World Cup’ today we are sharing the story of a new cricketing giant where Australia beats the arch-rivals England in the finals. 

World Cup of 1987

The 1987 Cricket World Cup (officially known as the Dependency Cup 1987 for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth Cricket World Cup. It was held from October 8 to November 8, 1987, in India and Pakistan – the first such tournament outside England. The one-day format remained the same as the eight-team tournament in 1983, except for the reduction in the number of overs per team from 60 to 50, the current standard for all ODIs. 

Format

The format of the competition was two subgroups of four teams, where each team played twice in 50 games. The top two teams in each group advanced to the semi-finals, where the two winners advanced to the final. All matches were played during the day and for the last time in the tournament’s history, teams appeared in traditional white attire and used the traditional red balls used in Test/First Class matches. 

Semi-finals

Australia won the toss and elected to bat, Australian batsmen started very well and scored smoothly. David Boon 65 off 91 top scorer and shared 82 runs stands with DM Jones. Australia looked very good to reach 300 with a strong batting effort,  but Imran Khan claimed 3 wickets for 17 runs in 5 overs and stopped Australia to 267 in 50 overs. Pakistan had a poor start and fell to 3/38. Imran Khan 58 and Javed Miandad 70, shared 112 runs from 156 balls. However, with a required run rate of 7.87 at the time of Miandad’s fall, the incoming batsmen had too much to do and Pakistan lost 6/99 as they were bowled out for 249. Earlier, Steve Waugh scored an 18-run in the 50th over of Saleem Jaffar and ironically, Pakistan lost the match by 18 runs.

India won the toss and elected to field. After 2/79, Graham Gooch 115 and captain Mike Gatting 56 shared a 117-run partnership in 19 overs. When Gooch was finally bowled, another 51 runs had been added and England had reached 254 in 50 overs. India got off to a poor start and fell to 3/73. The middle order smoothly top-scored with Mohammed Azharuddin 74. Before Eddie Hemmings removed Azharuddin lbw, India was 5/204, needing 50 runs from the last 10 overs with 5 wickets in hand and it looked like the game was going to be very tight. However, India’s lower order collapsed and lost 5/15. India was eventually bowled out for 219 in 45.3 overs, giving England both a place in the final and revenge for their loss to India in the World Cup semi-final four years earlier in England.

Finals

Australia won the toss and elected to bat. With David Boon 75 off 125 balls, Australia posted 253/5 in 50 overs. Mike Veletta fired 45 off 31 balls at the end of the innings as Australia scored 65 runs from the last six overs. In reply, England lost the opener Tim Robinson off the first ball for a duck. Bill Athey 58 scored and England was close to winning when captain Mike Gatting 41 off 45 balls surrendered the initiative and lost the wicket. 69 runs were required in 13 overs when the partnership ended, Allan Lamb 45 also had a brilliant innings, but it was to no avail when the run rate required by England began to gather. After England did not score in the last 17 runs of the final, the trophy went to Australia.

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